If a device /dev/sda is partitioned into /dev/sda1, /dev/sda2 etc. then you
*must* only use /dev/sda1, /dev/sda2 etc. for data - never /dev/sda. You either
create and use partitions on a device or you don't.
If you want to use /dev/sda directly (and lose all the data on the partitions)
you must remove the partition table first (e.g. use fdisk to delete all the
partitions then write zeros to the first sector of the device).
The endless looping was fixed in 2.00.32 (included in RHEL4 update 1).

An advisory has been issued which should help the problem
described in this bug report. This report is therefore being
closed with a resolution of ERRATA. For more information
on the solution and/or where to find the updated files,
please follow the link below. You may reopen this bug report
if the solution does not work for you.
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2005-192.html

Note

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